"Not the Parkinson girl, Lucius." Narcissa said, decisively, "She might be from a good family but I really couldn't let Draco endure her for life!" then, adding the only argument she knew Lucius would bow before, "And imagine her face on our grandchildren, Lucius!"

Her husband grimaced, "You're right, Narcissa. Well, any other choices?"

"The Weasleys? Oh come on Lucius! I'm joking! All right! What about the Grays?"

"Didn't their daughter join Hogwarts only a year ago?"

"They have an elder one who was in Durmstrang." Narcissa watched her husband's eyes light up. As he agreed to call on them that evening, she suppressed a pang of guilt. Well, atleast she was ensuring that her son got a beautiful wife. "Oh Draco!" she thought, "Why him?"

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Draco, flat on his back stared up at the ceiling. He was beyond anger and grief. He just lay there, envisioning a future with some strange girl, forced to do whatever his Father wanted for the rest of his life. And never seeing Harry again. A singly tear ran down his cheek as he closed his eyes.

He hadn't even been able to send Harry a letter. Lucius had ensured that every avenue of communication had been cut off. And underneath the layer of numb despair, there was a pool of fear. Fear for Harry. Who he knew would come for him.

"Draco." The door closed behind Lucius. Draco looked up wearily, what was it this time?

"You get married two days from now, this Thursday. To Persis Gray."

A look of horror shot through Draco's eyes, "Persis Gray?" No, no, no, no!! He had heard enough of her from his cousin in Durmstrang. And even by Durmstrang standards she was unbearable. And he had to make to with her instead of Harry?!

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"I want to see Father," he flatly told the House-elf who had answered his summons. Within minutes he was being escorted to the study.

"Well?" Lucius looked up impatiently.

"Father," for the first time he was pleading, "Father, please don't do this to me! I can't marry Persis."

"I gave you the option of choosing your bride, Draco." Lucius said, "It is now too late to cancel the arrangements."

"Father please! Not Persis! Not anyone. Father, please! I don't want to marry."

"This childish whining will get us nowhere, Draco," Lucius said in a warning tone, "You have disgraced me beyond belief. You should be grateful I am being so lenient on you."

"Lenient?" Draco laughed bitterly, "You're probably just waiting for my children to be born before killing me."

"I wouldn't kill you, Draco. But while we're on the topic, I might as well make it clear that you are to have nothing to do with their upbringing. I cannot risk another generation of Malfoys who forget what they owe their family. Since both you and Persis are good-looking, they will have the features worthy of a Malfoy anyway." he added with satisfaction.

Draco's eye-brows rose, "And suppose, just suppose Father," he said through clenched teeth, "I do not have any heir? If I refuse to produce any children?"

Lucius looked up sharply, then soundlessly twirled his wand. A sudden, pleasant calm descended on Draco. A voice in his head said, "Walk over to the desk and stand before me with one leg raised, Draco." Only too happy to obey he did.

As suddenly as it had come, the calm vanished and he found himself bemused and bewildered, standing before an amused Lucius on one leg. As he realized what his Father had done, Draco's entire body contracted in disbelief and disgust.

Putting down his wand, Lucius turned back to his paperwork, "The Imperius, Draco, is a surprisingly easy spell to use."